Traditional Peoples and Communities impacted but not served: hydroelectric plants in generating energy poverty

Abstract

In the context of the climate emergency and the transition of energy matrices, it is necessary to question the overcoming of environmental racism, energy injustice, and coloniality in the Brazilian context. The article aims to address the intersection of these concepts related to indigenous peoples, traditional peoples, and communities in Brazil, in order to examine how energy production, especially through hydroelectric plants, negatively impacts their territories and rights, perpetuating and deepening a scenario of energy poverty - understood as the lack of access to energy, but also as the loss of sociobiodiversity caused by energy projects that impact but do not serve these populations. The methodology includes data collection, as well as a literature review and qualitative data on rights violations and lack of access to energy by these groups, making visible the claims of traditional peoples and communities. The results indicate that energy expansion, in addition to not guaranteeing access to energy for these populations, devastates them with territorial and cultural impoverishment due to this expansion without respect for their self- determination. It is concluded that the expansion of energy projects in Brazil reproduces coloniality and environmental racism by neglecting these populations, resulting in socio-environmental injustices that exacerbate energy poverty and violate fundamental rights, which cannot be accepted in the pursuit of energy transition. The final considerations highlight the urgent need for policies that guarantee prior, free, and informed consultation and consent of these peoples, aiming for a just and inclusive energy transition.